Chapter 8
Disclaimer: Seven chapters and you *still* haven't figured it out? I really don't own Harry Potter or any of the other characters in this story. The plot of this rather sorry fanfic belongs to me, but the actual true plot of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. So stop sending your lawyers to me, Jo!
Rating: R
Author's Note: Oh my God! 100 reviews!!! There aren't enough words in the English language to describe the feeling I have right now! Thank you everyone!!!! You're all very special!!!! Your reviews make me so happy. I can't seem to describe how amazing it is to log onto FF.Net and find I've recieved more reviews. It's inspirational. I got too many review to respond to all of your reviews, but if you would like me too reply to yours, give me your email, and I'll try to.
Thanks to: Ladyblondhair, mnemosyne, Kay, Tomoyo no Miko, Katie of Gryffindor, LadyDeath, Katy Kinneas, Diartemis, Diamond Angel, Merlin, Belle, Cyber, Kleam Copacabana, Vespertilious-Flower, Rarity 88, Lenwe Arcamenel, Sydney Pima, throbbing-squirm, Jubilee, a, Transcendence, Cherry- Bay, neversaynever, Emi, Dilly's girl, FlamingFaerieOfDarkness, Ryan-sama, Hitomi Fanel.
That may not seem like a lot of people (I certainly think it's more than I deserve!) but to me it is plenty. And you all wrote me such wonderful, interesting, long, funny, entertaining reviews that would make the response part of this chapter longer than the actual chapter. But if you'd like a response, drop me a line. XOXOXOX!! That you so much for the reviews! They are truly grand! Thanks to Klea, neversaynever, Phoebe, and Nox for adding me to their favourites lists.
I do have to thank FlamingFairieOfDarkness, for the wonderful review in which you said I was one of the two best authors on FF.Net, and for getting excited during my chapter. I was excited too.
Okay. Enough rambling to all of you about how wonderful you are. Now I'm going to ramble about this chapter. This one is my favourite. So much happens in it and I know you're all going to love it. Although there won't be any slash, there's still a lot of stuff I'm positive you'll appreciate. So! Without further ado.... let me present to you chapter 8 of Know Your Enemy.
It happened yesterday. I started wondering if I was quite old enough to be getting married. Snape knocked the doubt into my mind. He stopped me in the corridor and asked whether I'd thought about anything. Like where Ginny and I would be living, what career path I'd be choosing, what financial decisions I'd be making. Those adult things.
And that's when I realized there were only four months until my eighteenth birthday. And only two months until I graduated from Hogwarts. And all those adult things... they'd apply to me as well.
I got very nervous, very fast. I hadn't even thought about buying my own place (because of course I'd have to), let alone a place big enough for Ginny AND myself. What was I going to do about food? And furniture and clothing and entertainment?
So I wondered 'How am I going to physically, emotionally and financially support Ginny if I don't get a job?' I also wondered 'How expensive will the wedding be, and will I be able to afford that and a house?' And I wondered 'Why the hell am I getting married, when I don't even know if I really want to in the first place?'
Because I'd begun to really think about it. And was I ready to get married? Was I marrying the right person? I'd only been with Ginny a year and a bit. Was that enough to be considered love? Was it even love?
Well you could imagine how muddled up my head was. And there was Ron at my heels, going on about who I was going to invite to the wedding. There wa Hermione, who was bantering on about true love. There was Ginny, who wouldn't shut up about the music we were going to play at the wedding. And Draco wouldn't say anything at all about it, and that was somehow worse.
Draco wasn't coming to the wedding. Apparently he was busy on the twentieth of June. I was annoyed, but everyone told me to just forget about it. I guess I was wondering why Draco would want to miss his friend's wedding. But whatever the reason, I wanted him there and the fact that he wouldn't be, made me furious.
It was at least a week after the Easter holidays, and Ritzy and Bill hadn't left Hogwarts yet. Ron said it was because Ritzy felt there was still some unfinished business to tend to. So we were waiting.
Meanwhile, Zabini seemed intent on driving Draco mad. It certainly looked like it was working.
"Have you seen Zabini this morning?" Draco asked, darting into the queue between Hermione and I. It was time to for another Hogsmeade visit.
"No, why?"
"I can't take it anymore!" Draco exploded, his face flushed with anger, "Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, there he is. Going on about the will of God. He says he's going to teach me how to be a proper Christian." Hermione looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh, but the situation was rather funny.
"Oh Draco, just let him get on with it," she said.
"He wants to read the bible to me," Draco explained.
I laughed, "Is that really so bad?"
"Yesterday, he read the passage in which it says gay people should be stoned to death. Then he threw a stone at me," he said, with a very straight face. Hermione was biting the sleeve of her jumper, trying not to laugh.
"That's not cool," I said, "He's trying to stone you to death?"
"No. He said it was just a taste of what I'd get in Hell if I didn't repent."
"Blaise Zabini?" Hermione demanded, "The same Blaise Zabini that is in my Potions class? He doesn't seem at all religious. Blaise Zabini!?" She sounded doubtful.
"That's the thing," Draco said, "He wasn't always like that. In fact, I thing he's gay in denial. But his very religious uncle sent him to a bible camp last summer when his mum died. And I suppose they must have told him God hates homosexuals. Now he's crazy religious. It's starting to scare me."
"A bible camp did that to him?"
"I think it was a colt," Draco said, in a very honest tone.
"Eh, who knows," Hermione said, "My Grannie Hannie was in a colt. They're really dangerous, and Zabini did try to kill you."
"Moving off the depressing topic on to a slightly lighter one..." I said, in a cheery voice, "Please come to the wedding!"
"I can't," Draco said, "I'm sorry." I glared ahead as the seventh years began moving out the doors of the school, toward the gates.
"Ginny says she wants a five layer cake, each layer a different flavor," I said, "Does she think I'm loaded or something? If that's just the cake... imagine the rest of the ceremony. Jesus!"
"I'll help pay for it," Draco offered.
"What?"
"Yeah. I mean.... it's the least I can do, since I'm not going. I doubt I'm getting married anyway, so I'll help pay for a friend's." Hermione looked indignant.
"What about my wedding?" she demanded.
"I'll buy you and Ron a house," Draco replied.
"I wasn't trying to suggest Ron and I would be getting married -" Hermione protested.
"Yeah well, I was," Draco answered, with a note of finality in his voice. "I'll pay for the dress and tuxedo rentals. Or if you decide to buy them. Whatever. I'll pay for the refreshments too."
"Oh Draco, you don't have to," I said. It would be rather awkward.
"Nonsense!" Draco snapped, "I want to."
"Wait, what do you mean you doubt you'll be getting married?"
"Well.... I mean.... you only get one soulmate, right? What are the chances I'll find him? I'd say one in a million," he replied. Draco, Hermione and I set off for the Three Broomsticks. Ron had a detention but he was going to meet up with us there.
"Well yeah but who says you have to marry your soulmate?" I asked.
"If I get married, it'll be to my soulmate," Draco said. Well, that was certainly an interesting thought. Was Ginny my soulmate? Did *I* want to marry my soulmate. Well, sure. But like Draco said, what were the chances I'd even find them?
"I think I've found my soulmate," Hermione said suddenly.
"Aww. That's so cute," Draco said, pinching her cheek. She swatted at him and blushed. "Well.... Ron doesn't seem like a very appealing soulmate."
"Oh yeah? Can you think of someone better?" she inquired.
"Yeah," Draco sighed, and kicked a pebble along the ground.
"Well, there it is. Let's go get some butterbeers," I said, sensing the discomfort.
"Okay," Draco and Hermione agreed. We entered the tavern and ordered some drinks. Sitting at a booth, we starting chatting about the wedding.
"Can I be the maid of honour?" Hermione asked.
"Isn't that a question you should be asking Ginny?"
"Whatever," she replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, if it's up to me, sure. But ask Ginny just in case. She's the kind of girl who could get seriously angry at me for saying yes without consulting her," I said. Hermione nodded.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Draco said, "You know what.... girls always ask other girls to go to the bathroom with them. But if a guy were to ask another guy to go with them, it would seem sort of gay. Well, I'm the gayest person here.... so how would you like to join me in the bathroom, Harry?"
"I'll pass," I replied.
"Oh all right...." Draco said, "It was worth a try." He turned and set off for the bathroom. I found myself very interested in the sway of Draco's hips and.... ahem!
"You know, Harry," Hermione said, "It truly looks like you're checking Draco out."
"I'm not!" I shouted indignantly. Hermione smirked knowingly and raised her tankard to clink it against mine.
"Whatever you say, Harry."
"Hey mates!" Ron said, slipping into the booth beside Hermione, "God, detention sucks."
"Well if you just did your homework once in awhile...."
"Quiet, Hermione. Please. I've just sat through an hour of McGonagall lecturing me. I don't need it from you."
"Oh you're horrible," Hermione said, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Yes I am," Ron agreed, "I'm also very thirsty. So get me a drink, Droolface!"
"Dollface," I corrected.
"No," he said, "No, it's definitely Droolface."
"Oh shut up and get your own damn drink," Hermione yelled. Ron half stuck his tongue out at her and went to get one from Madam Rosmerta. He got it and came back, and we managed to strike up a conversation before Draco finally got back.
"What were you doing in there?" I demanded curiously.
"Well Potter," Draco drawled, "What do *you* do in the bathroom, besides wank?" Ron snickered and gave Draco a high five as he sat beside me. I bet I blushed like a stop sign.
"I just meant, what took you so long?"
"Well I had to put my make-up on, of course," Draco replied, draining his mug and slamming it down on the table.
"Yeah, yeah, " I muttered, "Shut up, you smart mouthed snob."
"That I am," he agreed, flipping his hair behind his shoulder. He truly had long hair.
"Do you ever cut your hair?" I asked.
"Not often. When did the subject change from snobs to my hair?"
"Just now, you snob."
"I'm disgusted! How could you call me such a thing!?"
"You just said -" I began.
"Wow, you're gullible..." he teased. I grumbled, looking around at all the students.
"Hey guys!" Parvarti cried, stepping up to our table, "Have you heard....?"
*
"So I was thinking," Ginny began, while my attention drifted to Draco. He was sitting at the Slytherin table, talking to Pansy. It was a well known fact that Draco and Pansy were friends again.
Another well known fact: Colin and Draco were very open with their relationship. They were ALWAYS snogging. It was driving me mad. But I'm sure it was annoying other people too. The two of them kissing every minute of the day.
I watched as Draco laughed at something that was obviously funny to him. Pansy had her back to me and Draco was sitting on the other side of the table, across from her.
"If Draco is so interesting, why don't you go marry him?" Ginny demanded, after she'd turned to see what I was so enthralled with.
"Ginny," I whined, "I don't want to marry Draco. I want to marry *you*. Could you please stop acting like I don't."
"I'm starting to think you don't want to." I turned my attention to her, studying her face contently.
"Jesus!" I swore, "When did you get so irritating?" Ginny looked startled at my outburst.
"I - I was just -" She stopped in mid-sentence, unable to continue. Then she gathered her books together, scrambled up from her seat and glared at me. "You've got some issues you have to deal with. Once you've dealt with them, you can come back and see me. At the moment, you don't want me around. I'll be waiting." Then she walked off, snapping at Colin as she went.
It didn't take me long to realize I was not exactly devastated by this occurrence.
*
I ambled toward the Astronomy Tower, stopping as I reached the door. Hearing voices, I paused and listened. That was Ritzy!
"All do respect, Miss Soon-To-Be-Weasley," came Zabini's ice cold voice, "But how dare you make this your business."
"Well of course it's my business!" Ritzy snapped, "You've been beating on my fiance's brother's friend. That's Draco. You really have no right in laying even a finger on him."
"But it's not God's will -" Zabini shot back.
"All do respect, Mr Zabini," Ritzy cut in, "But how dare you decide what is God's will."
"I - well, I - come again?"
"Well does God tell you these things personally? Does he sit down with you and rant on about gays and lesbians being sinners?" Stepping into the tower, I caught a glimse of Zabini's face. He looked quite shocked. His face suddenly changed, and he looked defeated. Then he grasped Ritzy's hand.
"There are some people I'd love you to meet....." Zabini said, "My uncle, for one. He's tried to convince me that being gay is wrong..... these are the words I needed to hear. They are the very same words *he* needs to hear." I quickly turned and walked out of the room.
After all, it was a very personal moment indeed.
*
"Ginny, I'm sorry," I said, pacing back and forth, reciting what I'd say when the time actually came to apologize. The only problem was.... I didn't *feel* sorry. And I really thought that this was one time where I actually had to be sorry in order to be able to say so to Ginny. That's how I felt.
So I was pacing the dormitory, going over in my mind what would be taking place in about ten minutes. I was very nervous. Who knew what could happen in ten minutes?
"I wish I could.... no, that's not going to work." I turned around and found Ron observing me. I smiled, feeling rather embarassed. "I'm just practicing."
"That's fine," Ron said, "Do go on."
"Oh.... well all right," I said, pacing some more, "Ginny, I'm very sorry for happening to look over at my friend during our conversation. Next time I'll try and control my wandering eyes. Oh bugger. Even in my head that sounds completely stupid. Why should I be sorry for looking at Draco?"
"You want come advice, Harry?" Ron asked. I nodded, "Okay. Well, I'm going to give you some valuable information. Listen carefully. Women never really tell you the whole story."
"Right....."
"No, no, no, listen. Women never tell you the entire story. You always have to guess what's really bothering them, because they're not going to tell you. If they do, you're getting off easy."
"Is this going somewhere?" I asked.
"Yeah it is. Shut up and listen. So let's say Hermione wants me to shake hands with her parents on the platform at the end of this year. What she really wants me to do, is come over for dinner and perhaps sleep on the couch overnight."
"I don't see what this -"
"Shut your trap and listen to what I have to say!" Ron yelled.
"Okay," I replied quickly.
"Thank you. Look..... this thing with Ginny. She's not mad because you looked at Draco. It's something deeper. Now don't ask me what it is..... I haven't a clue. But take that into consideration when you're apologizing to her."
"That's your advice?"
"Hey, it's the best you're gonna get from me," Ron answered. I socked him on the shoulder and we shared a hug. "I'm going now. Hermione and I are going to do some homework."
"Oh, fun."
"That's right," Ron said, "And don't you forget it." He started for the door to the dormitories.
"Oh Ron," I called after him.
"Yes?" he said, turning to me.
"Would you be angry if Ginny and I didn't get married?" I asked.
"Honestly? No.... I wouldn't be angry. Harry, do you really think I want the Boy-Who-Lived marrying my little sister?"
"Um.... no?"
"You get the grand prize," Ron said in this very blank voice. I laughed and Ron went for the door again.
"Hello Ron," Ginny said, coming into the dormitory.
"Oh...... hey," he said, gave me a sympathetic glance, and ran down the stairs to the common room.
"Um.... how was lunch?" I asked.
"It was fine," Ginny replied.
"That's good."
"Yes." We were both silent for a moment. "Oh.... Harry, we need to talk."
"I agree."
"Good. Come sit with me over here," Ginny requested, and we both sat down on my bed, facing each other.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Us," she replied.
"Oh.... okay."
"Yeah. I've been thinking about it for the past three days. And while I'm madly in love with you....." Ginny said, taking my hands in hers, "You don't feel the same way about me."
"Yes I do -"
"No..... you don't. And that's okay! I've known it for months.... I just didn't want to believe it."
"I -" I started.
"No. Let me talk. Don't interrupt. You can say things when I'm finished, but just be silent while I'm explaining. I think you're not really in love with me. And while that breaks my heart, I know it's breaking yours to stay with me every single day. So I pretend like I don't know. But I do. I can tell with every breath you take and every move you make. It just doesn't say 'I'm in love with Ginny.' It does, however, say 'I'm in love'. But with whom, I have a feeling you're unaware."
"Ginny, wait -"
"No. I'm going to finish. You see... I've known that you're not in love with me since we had that fight. The one where you decided not to say anything when I told you I loved you. When you apologized, something was nagging me. I should have realized that you didn't love me. But I had hope."
"Then you told me you did love me. I knew it wasn't true. But the fact that you'd said so gave me even more hope, so I just kept pretending you did. And as things went on... I got caught up in everything. Then finally, the day I'd been dreaming about since I was ten, came along. You proposed to me. And I loved you. So I said yes. But something just didn't add up."
"I figured it out the day the school found out Draco was gay. I wanted to go by the lake before classes with you..... and you said no. That was the first time you'd ever said no to something like that. And I realized you actually wanted to be with Draco. As the day went on, I forgot about it and decided you just wanted to be with your friend -"
"And I did!" I interrupted.
"Yes, yes. So I pretended like nothing was happening to our relationship. But something was. Because you didn't love me. And pretending you love something or someone can make a situation a lot crazier than it should ever be."
"Basically, Harry, you're just attracted to the passion of our relationship. It's the lust. And I don't want to be in a lust relationship. So I don't think we should get married."
"You're breaking up with me?!" I asked, my voice getting slightly high- pitched. I was shocked!
"To put it harshly, yes. You're important to me, and God knows I love you.... but I can't keep pretending that I'm not noticing this. Harry..... you're in love with Draco. It's *so* obvious and rather unattractive that you're ignoring it. So get yourself down to the Slytherin common room, or wherever Draco hangs out, and you tell him that you love him. Or I'll take you there myself, and WATCH you tell him."
"I - what - I can't -" I spluttered, completely stunned, "Oh Jesus! I don't love Draco!"
"Yes you do. Don't you fucking lie to me, Harry! I know you love Draco, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll find someone that loves me, don't you worry. But I figure.... you only get one soulmate..... and if you find them, why in the world would you give them up?" That wa familair. And for some reason, when Ginny swore, it made me listen. "Oh go get him, Harry. Because I KNOW he loves you back."
"Okay!" I said, suddenly feeling extremely excited and nervous at the same time. I was getting somewhat of an adrenaline (A/N: I cannot say that word! It's SO annoying!) rush. I jumped up from the bed, threw my arms around Ginny and dashed toward the door. "Wish me luck!"
"Good luck," Ginny said, "Oh and Harry! If you want more proof that you're in love with Draco, then I suggest you listen to this." I turned around and looked at her. "The other day when we were kissing, and you thought you were moaning my name. Well you weren't.... you were calling me Draco."
Complete silence.
"So go get him!" Ginny yelled, smiling widely at me. I blushed furiously and ran out of there as fast as I could. I couldn't believe it!!! But where in the world was Draco Malfoy? Did I have something to tell him!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Didn't I tell you you'd love this chapter!!??!!?!?!? AND there was no slash!!!!!!!! Oh I'm so evil. That's a cliffhanger if I ever saw one. But you loved that, didn't you? I ended their relationship on good terms (and you ALL saw it coming), and Zabini isn't such a bad guy after all. (Yes he is... just you wait).
Can you believe it!!!!???? 100 reviews!! And all because of you wonderful people, you! Now review!!!!!
Anything else to say? Let me think. Well, I really loved writing this chapter. It's my favourite so far. Well, we'll see. Next chapter up soon, seeing as I've already written some of it.
I wanted to say that one of the reasons I even got this chapter done was because of David Bowie. He is such an amazing singer/songwriter. If I didn't have his album, this chapter wouldn't have gotten written. So you all thank David Bowie now. Because he's a musical genius. You should all download the song 'Life on Mars' by him. It's the most inspiratinal song I've ever heard. And while I wrote this chapter, I was listening to it nonstop. Okay.... enough of that.
Words of wisdom!
"We can't just stand here staring at our hands all day! Or can we?" -Homer
"You know they call them fingers, but have you ever seen them fing? Oh - there they go." -Otto
~The Simpsons.
That's the episode where Homer has to take medicinal marijuana. I saw that a week ago, and I was laughing hysterically. It's now my favourite episode of any TV show in national television history. What an amazing episode. Hilarious!!!
Sorry! I felt like telling you that. I'm seeing 'Lord of the Rings' again tomorrow. What an awesome movie. Can't wait! AND I saw 'The Royal Tenenbaums' today. What a fascinating movie. If you've not yet seen that movie, go watch it as soon as possible. It was so brilliant. And if you HAVE seen it, then let me know what you thought. 8-)
Happy January 17th! Oh WOW!!! It's the 18th now!!! It's two o'clock in the morning!!!! Very cool! That's something to celebrate!!!
Well..... must be going to be now...... very tired, what with all the writing. Ciao!
Tine
Disclaimer: Seven chapters and you *still* haven't figured it out? I really don't own Harry Potter or any of the other characters in this story. The plot of this rather sorry fanfic belongs to me, but the actual true plot of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. So stop sending your lawyers to me, Jo!
Rating: R
Author's Note: Oh my God! 100 reviews!!! There aren't enough words in the English language to describe the feeling I have right now! Thank you everyone!!!! You're all very special!!!! Your reviews make me so happy. I can't seem to describe how amazing it is to log onto FF.Net and find I've recieved more reviews. It's inspirational. I got too many review to respond to all of your reviews, but if you would like me too reply to yours, give me your email, and I'll try to.
Thanks to: Ladyblondhair, mnemosyne, Kay, Tomoyo no Miko, Katie of Gryffindor, LadyDeath, Katy Kinneas, Diartemis, Diamond Angel, Merlin, Belle, Cyber, Kleam Copacabana, Vespertilious-Flower, Rarity 88, Lenwe Arcamenel, Sydney Pima, throbbing-squirm, Jubilee, a, Transcendence, Cherry- Bay, neversaynever, Emi, Dilly's girl, FlamingFaerieOfDarkness, Ryan-sama, Hitomi Fanel.
That may not seem like a lot of people (I certainly think it's more than I deserve!) but to me it is plenty. And you all wrote me such wonderful, interesting, long, funny, entertaining reviews that would make the response part of this chapter longer than the actual chapter. But if you'd like a response, drop me a line. XOXOXOX!! That you so much for the reviews! They are truly grand! Thanks to Klea, neversaynever, Phoebe, and Nox for adding me to their favourites lists.
I do have to thank FlamingFairieOfDarkness, for the wonderful review in which you said I was one of the two best authors on FF.Net, and for getting excited during my chapter. I was excited too.
Okay. Enough rambling to all of you about how wonderful you are. Now I'm going to ramble about this chapter. This one is my favourite. So much happens in it and I know you're all going to love it. Although there won't be any slash, there's still a lot of stuff I'm positive you'll appreciate. So! Without further ado.... let me present to you chapter 8 of Know Your Enemy.
It happened yesterday. I started wondering if I was quite old enough to be getting married. Snape knocked the doubt into my mind. He stopped me in the corridor and asked whether I'd thought about anything. Like where Ginny and I would be living, what career path I'd be choosing, what financial decisions I'd be making. Those adult things.
And that's when I realized there were only four months until my eighteenth birthday. And only two months until I graduated from Hogwarts. And all those adult things... they'd apply to me as well.
I got very nervous, very fast. I hadn't even thought about buying my own place (because of course I'd have to), let alone a place big enough for Ginny AND myself. What was I going to do about food? And furniture and clothing and entertainment?
So I wondered 'How am I going to physically, emotionally and financially support Ginny if I don't get a job?' I also wondered 'How expensive will the wedding be, and will I be able to afford that and a house?' And I wondered 'Why the hell am I getting married, when I don't even know if I really want to in the first place?'
Because I'd begun to really think about it. And was I ready to get married? Was I marrying the right person? I'd only been with Ginny a year and a bit. Was that enough to be considered love? Was it even love?
Well you could imagine how muddled up my head was. And there was Ron at my heels, going on about who I was going to invite to the wedding. There wa Hermione, who was bantering on about true love. There was Ginny, who wouldn't shut up about the music we were going to play at the wedding. And Draco wouldn't say anything at all about it, and that was somehow worse.
Draco wasn't coming to the wedding. Apparently he was busy on the twentieth of June. I was annoyed, but everyone told me to just forget about it. I guess I was wondering why Draco would want to miss his friend's wedding. But whatever the reason, I wanted him there and the fact that he wouldn't be, made me furious.
It was at least a week after the Easter holidays, and Ritzy and Bill hadn't left Hogwarts yet. Ron said it was because Ritzy felt there was still some unfinished business to tend to. So we were waiting.
Meanwhile, Zabini seemed intent on driving Draco mad. It certainly looked like it was working.
"Have you seen Zabini this morning?" Draco asked, darting into the queue between Hermione and I. It was time to for another Hogsmeade visit.
"No, why?"
"I can't take it anymore!" Draco exploded, his face flushed with anger, "Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, there he is. Going on about the will of God. He says he's going to teach me how to be a proper Christian." Hermione looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh, but the situation was rather funny.
"Oh Draco, just let him get on with it," she said.
"He wants to read the bible to me," Draco explained.
I laughed, "Is that really so bad?"
"Yesterday, he read the passage in which it says gay people should be stoned to death. Then he threw a stone at me," he said, with a very straight face. Hermione was biting the sleeve of her jumper, trying not to laugh.
"That's not cool," I said, "He's trying to stone you to death?"
"No. He said it was just a taste of what I'd get in Hell if I didn't repent."
"Blaise Zabini?" Hermione demanded, "The same Blaise Zabini that is in my Potions class? He doesn't seem at all religious. Blaise Zabini!?" She sounded doubtful.
"That's the thing," Draco said, "He wasn't always like that. In fact, I thing he's gay in denial. But his very religious uncle sent him to a bible camp last summer when his mum died. And I suppose they must have told him God hates homosexuals. Now he's crazy religious. It's starting to scare me."
"A bible camp did that to him?"
"I think it was a colt," Draco said, in a very honest tone.
"Eh, who knows," Hermione said, "My Grannie Hannie was in a colt. They're really dangerous, and Zabini did try to kill you."
"Moving off the depressing topic on to a slightly lighter one..." I said, in a cheery voice, "Please come to the wedding!"
"I can't," Draco said, "I'm sorry." I glared ahead as the seventh years began moving out the doors of the school, toward the gates.
"Ginny says she wants a five layer cake, each layer a different flavor," I said, "Does she think I'm loaded or something? If that's just the cake... imagine the rest of the ceremony. Jesus!"
"I'll help pay for it," Draco offered.
"What?"
"Yeah. I mean.... it's the least I can do, since I'm not going. I doubt I'm getting married anyway, so I'll help pay for a friend's." Hermione looked indignant.
"What about my wedding?" she demanded.
"I'll buy you and Ron a house," Draco replied.
"I wasn't trying to suggest Ron and I would be getting married -" Hermione protested.
"Yeah well, I was," Draco answered, with a note of finality in his voice. "I'll pay for the dress and tuxedo rentals. Or if you decide to buy them. Whatever. I'll pay for the refreshments too."
"Oh Draco, you don't have to," I said. It would be rather awkward.
"Nonsense!" Draco snapped, "I want to."
"Wait, what do you mean you doubt you'll be getting married?"
"Well.... I mean.... you only get one soulmate, right? What are the chances I'll find him? I'd say one in a million," he replied. Draco, Hermione and I set off for the Three Broomsticks. Ron had a detention but he was going to meet up with us there.
"Well yeah but who says you have to marry your soulmate?" I asked.
"If I get married, it'll be to my soulmate," Draco said. Well, that was certainly an interesting thought. Was Ginny my soulmate? Did *I* want to marry my soulmate. Well, sure. But like Draco said, what were the chances I'd even find them?
"I think I've found my soulmate," Hermione said suddenly.
"Aww. That's so cute," Draco said, pinching her cheek. She swatted at him and blushed. "Well.... Ron doesn't seem like a very appealing soulmate."
"Oh yeah? Can you think of someone better?" she inquired.
"Yeah," Draco sighed, and kicked a pebble along the ground.
"Well, there it is. Let's go get some butterbeers," I said, sensing the discomfort.
"Okay," Draco and Hermione agreed. We entered the tavern and ordered some drinks. Sitting at a booth, we starting chatting about the wedding.
"Can I be the maid of honour?" Hermione asked.
"Isn't that a question you should be asking Ginny?"
"Whatever," she replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, if it's up to me, sure. But ask Ginny just in case. She's the kind of girl who could get seriously angry at me for saying yes without consulting her," I said. Hermione nodded.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Draco said, "You know what.... girls always ask other girls to go to the bathroom with them. But if a guy were to ask another guy to go with them, it would seem sort of gay. Well, I'm the gayest person here.... so how would you like to join me in the bathroom, Harry?"
"I'll pass," I replied.
"Oh all right...." Draco said, "It was worth a try." He turned and set off for the bathroom. I found myself very interested in the sway of Draco's hips and.... ahem!
"You know, Harry," Hermione said, "It truly looks like you're checking Draco out."
"I'm not!" I shouted indignantly. Hermione smirked knowingly and raised her tankard to clink it against mine.
"Whatever you say, Harry."
"Hey mates!" Ron said, slipping into the booth beside Hermione, "God, detention sucks."
"Well if you just did your homework once in awhile...."
"Quiet, Hermione. Please. I've just sat through an hour of McGonagall lecturing me. I don't need it from you."
"Oh you're horrible," Hermione said, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Yes I am," Ron agreed, "I'm also very thirsty. So get me a drink, Droolface!"
"Dollface," I corrected.
"No," he said, "No, it's definitely Droolface."
"Oh shut up and get your own damn drink," Hermione yelled. Ron half stuck his tongue out at her and went to get one from Madam Rosmerta. He got it and came back, and we managed to strike up a conversation before Draco finally got back.
"What were you doing in there?" I demanded curiously.
"Well Potter," Draco drawled, "What do *you* do in the bathroom, besides wank?" Ron snickered and gave Draco a high five as he sat beside me. I bet I blushed like a stop sign.
"I just meant, what took you so long?"
"Well I had to put my make-up on, of course," Draco replied, draining his mug and slamming it down on the table.
"Yeah, yeah, " I muttered, "Shut up, you smart mouthed snob."
"That I am," he agreed, flipping his hair behind his shoulder. He truly had long hair.
"Do you ever cut your hair?" I asked.
"Not often. When did the subject change from snobs to my hair?"
"Just now, you snob."
"I'm disgusted! How could you call me such a thing!?"
"You just said -" I began.
"Wow, you're gullible..." he teased. I grumbled, looking around at all the students.
"Hey guys!" Parvarti cried, stepping up to our table, "Have you heard....?"
*
"So I was thinking," Ginny began, while my attention drifted to Draco. He was sitting at the Slytherin table, talking to Pansy. It was a well known fact that Draco and Pansy were friends again.
Another well known fact: Colin and Draco were very open with their relationship. They were ALWAYS snogging. It was driving me mad. But I'm sure it was annoying other people too. The two of them kissing every minute of the day.
I watched as Draco laughed at something that was obviously funny to him. Pansy had her back to me and Draco was sitting on the other side of the table, across from her.
"If Draco is so interesting, why don't you go marry him?" Ginny demanded, after she'd turned to see what I was so enthralled with.
"Ginny," I whined, "I don't want to marry Draco. I want to marry *you*. Could you please stop acting like I don't."
"I'm starting to think you don't want to." I turned my attention to her, studying her face contently.
"Jesus!" I swore, "When did you get so irritating?" Ginny looked startled at my outburst.
"I - I was just -" She stopped in mid-sentence, unable to continue. Then she gathered her books together, scrambled up from her seat and glared at me. "You've got some issues you have to deal with. Once you've dealt with them, you can come back and see me. At the moment, you don't want me around. I'll be waiting." Then she walked off, snapping at Colin as she went.
It didn't take me long to realize I was not exactly devastated by this occurrence.
*
I ambled toward the Astronomy Tower, stopping as I reached the door. Hearing voices, I paused and listened. That was Ritzy!
"All do respect, Miss Soon-To-Be-Weasley," came Zabini's ice cold voice, "But how dare you make this your business."
"Well of course it's my business!" Ritzy snapped, "You've been beating on my fiance's brother's friend. That's Draco. You really have no right in laying even a finger on him."
"But it's not God's will -" Zabini shot back.
"All do respect, Mr Zabini," Ritzy cut in, "But how dare you decide what is God's will."
"I - well, I - come again?"
"Well does God tell you these things personally? Does he sit down with you and rant on about gays and lesbians being sinners?" Stepping into the tower, I caught a glimse of Zabini's face. He looked quite shocked. His face suddenly changed, and he looked defeated. Then he grasped Ritzy's hand.
"There are some people I'd love you to meet....." Zabini said, "My uncle, for one. He's tried to convince me that being gay is wrong..... these are the words I needed to hear. They are the very same words *he* needs to hear." I quickly turned and walked out of the room.
After all, it was a very personal moment indeed.
*
"Ginny, I'm sorry," I said, pacing back and forth, reciting what I'd say when the time actually came to apologize. The only problem was.... I didn't *feel* sorry. And I really thought that this was one time where I actually had to be sorry in order to be able to say so to Ginny. That's how I felt.
So I was pacing the dormitory, going over in my mind what would be taking place in about ten minutes. I was very nervous. Who knew what could happen in ten minutes?
"I wish I could.... no, that's not going to work." I turned around and found Ron observing me. I smiled, feeling rather embarassed. "I'm just practicing."
"That's fine," Ron said, "Do go on."
"Oh.... well all right," I said, pacing some more, "Ginny, I'm very sorry for happening to look over at my friend during our conversation. Next time I'll try and control my wandering eyes. Oh bugger. Even in my head that sounds completely stupid. Why should I be sorry for looking at Draco?"
"You want come advice, Harry?" Ron asked. I nodded, "Okay. Well, I'm going to give you some valuable information. Listen carefully. Women never really tell you the whole story."
"Right....."
"No, no, no, listen. Women never tell you the entire story. You always have to guess what's really bothering them, because they're not going to tell you. If they do, you're getting off easy."
"Is this going somewhere?" I asked.
"Yeah it is. Shut up and listen. So let's say Hermione wants me to shake hands with her parents on the platform at the end of this year. What she really wants me to do, is come over for dinner and perhaps sleep on the couch overnight."
"I don't see what this -"
"Shut your trap and listen to what I have to say!" Ron yelled.
"Okay," I replied quickly.
"Thank you. Look..... this thing with Ginny. She's not mad because you looked at Draco. It's something deeper. Now don't ask me what it is..... I haven't a clue. But take that into consideration when you're apologizing to her."
"That's your advice?"
"Hey, it's the best you're gonna get from me," Ron answered. I socked him on the shoulder and we shared a hug. "I'm going now. Hermione and I are going to do some homework."
"Oh, fun."
"That's right," Ron said, "And don't you forget it." He started for the door to the dormitories.
"Oh Ron," I called after him.
"Yes?" he said, turning to me.
"Would you be angry if Ginny and I didn't get married?" I asked.
"Honestly? No.... I wouldn't be angry. Harry, do you really think I want the Boy-Who-Lived marrying my little sister?"
"Um.... no?"
"You get the grand prize," Ron said in this very blank voice. I laughed and Ron went for the door again.
"Hello Ron," Ginny said, coming into the dormitory.
"Oh...... hey," he said, gave me a sympathetic glance, and ran down the stairs to the common room.
"Um.... how was lunch?" I asked.
"It was fine," Ginny replied.
"That's good."
"Yes." We were both silent for a moment. "Oh.... Harry, we need to talk."
"I agree."
"Good. Come sit with me over here," Ginny requested, and we both sat down on my bed, facing each other.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Us," she replied.
"Oh.... okay."
"Yeah. I've been thinking about it for the past three days. And while I'm madly in love with you....." Ginny said, taking my hands in hers, "You don't feel the same way about me."
"Yes I do -"
"No..... you don't. And that's okay! I've known it for months.... I just didn't want to believe it."
"I -" I started.
"No. Let me talk. Don't interrupt. You can say things when I'm finished, but just be silent while I'm explaining. I think you're not really in love with me. And while that breaks my heart, I know it's breaking yours to stay with me every single day. So I pretend like I don't know. But I do. I can tell with every breath you take and every move you make. It just doesn't say 'I'm in love with Ginny.' It does, however, say 'I'm in love'. But with whom, I have a feeling you're unaware."
"Ginny, wait -"
"No. I'm going to finish. You see... I've known that you're not in love with me since we had that fight. The one where you decided not to say anything when I told you I loved you. When you apologized, something was nagging me. I should have realized that you didn't love me. But I had hope."
"Then you told me you did love me. I knew it wasn't true. But the fact that you'd said so gave me even more hope, so I just kept pretending you did. And as things went on... I got caught up in everything. Then finally, the day I'd been dreaming about since I was ten, came along. You proposed to me. And I loved you. So I said yes. But something just didn't add up."
"I figured it out the day the school found out Draco was gay. I wanted to go by the lake before classes with you..... and you said no. That was the first time you'd ever said no to something like that. And I realized you actually wanted to be with Draco. As the day went on, I forgot about it and decided you just wanted to be with your friend -"
"And I did!" I interrupted.
"Yes, yes. So I pretended like nothing was happening to our relationship. But something was. Because you didn't love me. And pretending you love something or someone can make a situation a lot crazier than it should ever be."
"Basically, Harry, you're just attracted to the passion of our relationship. It's the lust. And I don't want to be in a lust relationship. So I don't think we should get married."
"You're breaking up with me?!" I asked, my voice getting slightly high- pitched. I was shocked!
"To put it harshly, yes. You're important to me, and God knows I love you.... but I can't keep pretending that I'm not noticing this. Harry..... you're in love with Draco. It's *so* obvious and rather unattractive that you're ignoring it. So get yourself down to the Slytherin common room, or wherever Draco hangs out, and you tell him that you love him. Or I'll take you there myself, and WATCH you tell him."
"I - what - I can't -" I spluttered, completely stunned, "Oh Jesus! I don't love Draco!"
"Yes you do. Don't you fucking lie to me, Harry! I know you love Draco, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll find someone that loves me, don't you worry. But I figure.... you only get one soulmate..... and if you find them, why in the world would you give them up?" That wa familair. And for some reason, when Ginny swore, it made me listen. "Oh go get him, Harry. Because I KNOW he loves you back."
"Okay!" I said, suddenly feeling extremely excited and nervous at the same time. I was getting somewhat of an adrenaline (A/N: I cannot say that word! It's SO annoying!) rush. I jumped up from the bed, threw my arms around Ginny and dashed toward the door. "Wish me luck!"
"Good luck," Ginny said, "Oh and Harry! If you want more proof that you're in love with Draco, then I suggest you listen to this." I turned around and looked at her. "The other day when we were kissing, and you thought you were moaning my name. Well you weren't.... you were calling me Draco."
Complete silence.
"So go get him!" Ginny yelled, smiling widely at me. I blushed furiously and ran out of there as fast as I could. I couldn't believe it!!! But where in the world was Draco Malfoy? Did I have something to tell him!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Didn't I tell you you'd love this chapter!!??!!?!?!? AND there was no slash!!!!!!!! Oh I'm so evil. That's a cliffhanger if I ever saw one. But you loved that, didn't you? I ended their relationship on good terms (and you ALL saw it coming), and Zabini isn't such a bad guy after all. (Yes he is... just you wait).
Can you believe it!!!!???? 100 reviews!! And all because of you wonderful people, you! Now review!!!!!
Anything else to say? Let me think. Well, I really loved writing this chapter. It's my favourite so far. Well, we'll see. Next chapter up soon, seeing as I've already written some of it.
I wanted to say that one of the reasons I even got this chapter done was because of David Bowie. He is such an amazing singer/songwriter. If I didn't have his album, this chapter wouldn't have gotten written. So you all thank David Bowie now. Because he's a musical genius. You should all download the song 'Life on Mars' by him. It's the most inspiratinal song I've ever heard. And while I wrote this chapter, I was listening to it nonstop. Okay.... enough of that.
Words of wisdom!
"We can't just stand here staring at our hands all day! Or can we?" -Homer
"You know they call them fingers, but have you ever seen them fing? Oh - there they go." -Otto
~The Simpsons.
That's the episode where Homer has to take medicinal marijuana. I saw that a week ago, and I was laughing hysterically. It's now my favourite episode of any TV show in national television history. What an amazing episode. Hilarious!!!
Sorry! I felt like telling you that. I'm seeing 'Lord of the Rings' again tomorrow. What an awesome movie. Can't wait! AND I saw 'The Royal Tenenbaums' today. What a fascinating movie. If you've not yet seen that movie, go watch it as soon as possible. It was so brilliant. And if you HAVE seen it, then let me know what you thought. 8-)
Happy January 17th! Oh WOW!!! It's the 18th now!!! It's two o'clock in the morning!!!! Very cool! That's something to celebrate!!!
Well..... must be going to be now...... very tired, what with all the writing. Ciao!
Tine